Aftermath of 4-3 loss: An unhappy McLellan and an apologetic Desjardins for that “slashing” penalty in faceoff circle – and more

Yes, the Sharks made a game of it. But a 66-second stretch in the second period when they gave up three goals – at least two of them outright ugly – was too much to overcome and San Jose ended up with a 4-3 loss.

McLellan had a chance to throw a feel-good quote into the mix afterward but was in no mood to focus on his team’s resiliency or whatever other direction he could have taken the question.

Instead he went here:

“You know what I’ll take away from that? That we used up a lot of energy to come within one and we’re in the midst of a tough schedule. Played guys down the stretch an awful lot and we’re still short. You can take whatever you want out of that.”

The gist of that quote is in the print edition just filed and you can read that online here , per usual, so I won’t repeat everything. But once again there’s some decent material that didn’t make the cut.

****Andrew Desjardins was not the most popular Shark here at the Pepsi Center. Even before there was that fight with Max Talbot (a mere 16 penalty minutes before the five more he would earn), Desjardins was the centerpiece of a center ice scrum after Colorado’s fourth goal.

The cameras caught Desjardins spearing Avalanche center in that most tender of areas that we’ll simply call the groin here as I write for a family newspaper. That set off Cody McLeod who tried to take on both Desjardins and Bracken Kearns.

After the game, Desjardins sounded genuinely remorseful. He didn’t deny anything, but he said that wasn’t his intent.

“We just both went in hard for the draw. I can honestly say I wasn’t trying to do what ended up happening,” Desjardins said. “It was more like guys come together and you try to push the guy’s hands away. My stick, I guess, caught him in an unfortunate spot.”

“We’re down,” he added. “You just want to be intense. It just happened.”

I told him I was surprised he didn’t get five minutes for spearing. He said he was a little surprised, too, but thought it might have been because he tried to let the ref know it was inadvertent.
****McLellan’s assessment of those three second-period goals?

“When you look at the goals that were scored – two veteran d-men that you put a lot of trust in made a mistake. They bobble it right in front of their net.

“The third one bounces in from I don’t know where. The fourth one is a one-on-one situation that’s preventable.”

****Dan Boyle’s version of what went wrong on the first of those goals, Colorado’s second?

“The puck was bouncing around on me a little bit. I took it behind the net . . . just an unfortunate situation. Pickles, I kind of ran into him and we got caught there. Turnover and it’s in our net.”

****The stat sheet wasn’t much kinder to the Sharks than the scoreboard. Yes, San Jose registered 33 shots to 21 for the Avalanche and won 57 percent of the faceoffs, but Colorado was credited with 31 hits and 22 blocked shots compared to 14 and 8 for San Jose.

****Jamie McGinn scored for the second time this season against the team that traded him to Colorado. He didn’t make it too personal in his post-game comments when asked if it was special to score against his old team.

“Yeah it’s always special,” McGinn said. “It’s fun playing against them. I know they’re an elite team. it’s going to be a battle every time we face them. if we want to be a playoff contender we’re going to have beat teams like that because theyre there every year.We have to match up well against them and we did well tonight.”

****On to Chicago tomorrow morning, weather-willing.

David Pollak

David Pollak has been following the NHL forever and at the Mercury News as an editor or reporter since 1987. For almost a decade he wrote about the Sharks as the paper's Fan in the Stands before joining the sports department in 2001. He became the Sharks beat writer before the 2007-08 season and began this blog at that time. You can also follow him on Twitter at @PollakOnSharks.

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What a mess. Unfortunately for the Sharks, they don’t get to play Edmonton every single game. And just like I’m on record as saying, I’ve never seen the Sharks play a good game back-to-back. Today was a god-awful disgrace. (except for Logan).

And now it’s off to Chicago for the traditional automatic loss. Looks like it’s going to get ugly again. I hope Wilson is working the phones.This team is desperate for help. smh

Beer League Rocks

Really. Did you even watch the game? Logan healed 2 one timers. Totally different game if he makes just one of them. Marleau 1G 2A +1. You need to get your head out of Logan’s you know what. Marleau set Logan up for his goal. Marleau was the better player of the two of them today. Believe you me.smh

MLBSF

Haters gunna hate.
Go ahead and defend the Sharks. I’ve never seen you say anything negative about them. You follow the publicity department talking points word for word. smh

Beer League Rocks

You have your head so far up Logan’s you know what that you can’t see anything. My response to you was about you saying today was a god awful disgrace (except for Logan). Marleau was the better of the two today. That’s all I was saying. Yes they laid an egg in the 2nd period, however they did make a game out of it in the end. Logan is not god. Get off your knees.

SactoShark

LiLo also failed to keep the puck in the OZ twice in the last couple of pushes of the game, which cost the Sharks dearly.

Even his biggest cheerleader Remenda was groaning

LIttle Logan™ needs to pick up his game to get the Sharks where they want to go

Beer League Rocks

Sharks need all hands on deck with so many injuries. The top guys need to play their best being so short handed. LiLo probably thinking too much about the Olympics, he needs to focus more on his paying job. Hopefully after they announce that team, he’ll get his focus back.

SactoShark

Jumbo also had a brutal game….other than his standard nice passes

Beer League Rocks

Luckily they get a chance tomorrow to have a better game, but it’s going to be against a better team. Gotta get ready for my game.

Clemenza

MeLtdownBSF…

Lmao

SactoShark

Kings announcers are the worst in the league

ZEKE

Good to see TMc so angry. The Sharks are definitely vulnerable at this point — and will be for a while until some of the injured start to return. Who would predict success for a team that is rolling Kearns, Nieto, Hamilton, Sheppard, Desijardins, MBrown and McCarthy?

I think the reason TMc rode the top guys so much in this game is that he figured it would be more likely to get points vs COL than vs CHI on the back to back. I think he sacrificed tomorrow’s game for today. I think it was a pretty good call — winning a road game vs an elite team is tough enough — doing it on second game of a back to back with a rather lengthy travel between — even tougher.

Kevin B.

No, if you want to see a choke, go look at the Kansas City Chiefs today.

Alex

The play-by-play guy can barely keep up with the speed of the game.

Dan

Should have been a 5-minute major and game misconduct and Dejardegutless puke. Hope the league reviews the play and suspends him.

sharks1989

actually he wasn’t defending the Sharks he just said Marleau was the better between the two and I know exactly which 2 chances he’s talking about. I like Couture too but he didn’t play a great game either.

sharks1989

If anyone remembers about a month ago I wrote a comment about how I would like to see things stay the same as far as no trades or anything like that. Well I stick to my words as far as Skaters go, I honestly think that when this team is healthy they have the skill to go very far. The main thing that I am concerned about is Niemi’s play. Even in his great Season last year I have never been able to be totally confident in him and he has been Average to say the least so far this Season and last night was a perfect example. I know the Boyle Vlasic mistake goal was not his fault completely but a goalie can not have so much trust in his D men in front of the net. I think that if the Sharks are to make any trades this Season which I don’t think will be until after the Olympics are over I think that they should try to make a solid effort in Ryan Miller. Niemi and whatever it would cost to get him but I don’t think Niemi is as good as alot of people think he is. I like the guy alot and I hope he makes me eat my words but on some nights it has been embarrising and Miller has been able to play solid all these years on a terrible team and everyone knows the fiasco about him being traded. If things work out then he could Resign in San jose.

The Sharks have $428,000 in cap space. Ryan Miller is a $6,250,000 cap hit. Even if it gets pro rated, the Sharks would have to cut loose someone making $5.8 million. Those players are Thornton, Marleau, Boyle and Burns. Havlat is close, but someone else would have to go along with him. It won’t happen. I looked that up because I’d take Miller in a heartbeat, but it won’t happen. The Sharks could let go of Niemi to keep Miller long term, but the price tag for goalies is going up now. Even if the cap goes up next year, the Sharks have their big 3 up this summer.

sharks1989

just wishful thinking I guess

Huh?

who knows. Sabres may keep him. He’ll be a UFA, and that opens up a lot of possibilities. But as for a rental for the remainder of this season, not much chance of the Sharks doing that.

sharks1989

A bit off topic but I am curios to see what people think on here as far as trades for the Sharks go. What would you guys like to see change come March? Any particular realistic players you would like to see come to the team and what we would have to give up in order to get them? I live in Europe so i’m not able to keep up with most of the other teams in the League anymore since the times for me to watch are crazy. Who are some guys that you think could help put the pieces together?

Craig

Correct. Miller may be better but the cap hit probably nixes the deal. I say we start playing Stalock more so we know what we have with him and create internal competition which is healthy. Could be a pleasant improvement in both of them and if this isn’t done the Sharks are just wasting a spot on the roster. I’m sick and tired of coaches being hoodwinked by every starting goalie into starting too many games with the excuse they get better. It hasn’t worked so let the best goalie play just like every other position!

Craig

No not desperate for help but rather one of the elite teams in the NHL who lost by just one goal despite playing poorly VS another elite team. The Red Wings always go through losing streaks, this year one of at least 6 games but you know damn well if they get into the playoffs they will be dangerous and a force to contend with just like the Sharks. This is the regular season dude, all that counts is getting into the playoffs. The Sharks are in good hands with Doug Wilson, he will do whatever is necessary to make this team the best it can be and he spends 10 times as much time and knows 10 times as much about doing so than anyone in here or anywhere else. We can only speculate with a smidgeon of information.

Clemenza

How is he gutless when he also dropped the gloves?

….& won….

Suspension? A little extreme, don’t you think?

Craig

No YOU get out of here!

Craig

We went and watched your game=you coaching the Mites and really you shouldn’t be shortening your bench with Mites. Let them all play at that age because we could see you need more time to judge their skills and you’re breaking their hearts by sitting them. We’ll be checking on you next game so please change your ways coach.

Beer League Rocks

What…

Beer League Rocks

Really

Beer League Rocks

Just sick of his noise and adoration of Couture.

MLBSF

Well sharks1989,
The thing that’s so ironic about Niemi is he is the one who single-handedly knocked the Sharks out of the playoffs the year Chicago went on to win the Cup.

But if I remember correctly, Niemi wasn’t all that great in the finals against Philly. So it shouldn’t be all that surprising Niemi is performing the way he is — especially considering everyone who comes to the Sharks underperforms.

smh

MLBSF

Better get used to it. Believe you me.

MLBSF

I don’t even know what you’re talking about Craig but I agree and you get a thumbs up.

It is extremely easy to blame the goalie and that is why I don’t like picking on him so much. I saw the 3rd goal again and if you look close you can see that Johnston shot the puck to the net most likely to just get a line change and when he shot it Hamilton tipped in in mid air which of course changed the direction of the puck so that one is a little more on Hamilton. I know it’s a game of split second decisions but it seems like alot of the weak goals that Niemi has let in is due in part to a Sharks defensmen tipping it. Maybe if they see the opposing defensmen is about to take a shot from the point they shouldn’t try to get a stick on it. Get a body in front of it and if you can’t then let the shot be taken. 99% of the time if a goalie sees a shot taken from the point he will be able to stop it. Maybe the Sharks just need to put a little more trust in their netminder.

Buddy Elf

When did he even say “Get out of here”, Jim Hunt?

SactoShark

Not sure Maxine Talbot thinks he is too gutless…

Clemenza

Great…another troll around here.

SactoShark

apparently he thinks BLR is playing midgets..or coaching

SactoShark

Im not sure why the Hockey news tries to explain this to morons who will never understand it..but here is an article on:

“But let’s be just as honest and give Marleau all the credit we can for being one of the most dependable elite talents of his generation. Because if you don’t believe he’s been crucial to the Sharks’ success this season, you haven’t been watching closely.

Marleau is having an excellent season, and is on pace for one of his best goal scoring efforts despite not being lined up with Thornton and currently carrying a shooting percentage several points lower than his career average (to say nothing of the years in which he notched his best goal totals).

On the other hand: Marleau playing well in a contract year?? I am SHOCKED!

Wonderogre

Niemi wasn’t all that great that year, period. Against the Sharks, against Philly, against everyone. He was bailed out by a Chicago D corps that was deeper than the Marianis Trench.

SactoShark

Marleau does not give a crap about new contract dollars. He is staying in San Jose, and like Thornton, probably wont even test the market

Wonderogre

LOL! In a sport where goalies are notorious for going on hot and cold streaks, where even the elite goalies tend to have significant year in/year out variance in their stats (would you be advocating trading Lundquist, too?), and where netminding is the position with the statistically smallest divergence between elite and replacement caliber players, you are actually advocating dropping an extra $3M a season on a guy who has been worse than Niemi for pretty much all but these last 2 months of the last 4 years.

What?

edit: Niemi was a .930SV and 1.87GAA in the playoffs last year. If you weren’t confident with his performance, I am really not sure what to tell you.

Wonderogre

The problem isn’t that it’s wishful thinking, it’s that it doesn’t actually make sense to even contemplate.

Wonderogre

That he is 99.9999% likely to stay in SJ and not even test the FA market doesn’t mean that he doesn’t give a crap about new contract dollars. Unless he’s an idiot, of course.

edit: Sure, his performance is not necessarily the result of it being a contract year – but that’s what it took to get him out of a funk last time, so it wouldn’t surprise me if that was part of the impetus.